title: Salmonella from gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in south Georgia.
abstract: From 2002 to 2006, gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) were collected at Moody Air Force Base, Lowndes/Lanier counties, Georgia, USA, and opportunistically surveyed for the presence of Salmonella species. Four of 155 (2.6%) cloacal swabs collected from 80 tortoises were positive for the presence of Salmonella enterica, and the following serovars were identified: Give, Hartford, Javiana, and Luciana. Female tortoises (5%) were infected at a rate similar to male tortoises (5%). All isolates were obtained from adult tortoises (n = 73); subadults (n = 7) were all negative. Each isolated serovar is a potential human pathogen, suggesting appropriate precautions should be emphasized when handling these animals.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia 31698, USA. jmlockha@valdosta.edu
authors.forename: J Mitchell
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chamberlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D012307:Risk Factors; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014426:Turtles / Q000382:microbiology*; D015047:Zoonoses